Kansas ‘outplayed’ by No. 14 Iowa State

By Zach Getz

Monday, October 12, 2009

The Kansas volleyball team was swept for the third-straight match as Kansas lost to No. 14 Iowa State 0-3 this weekend.

Kansas is a good team, but it looked amateurish against Iowa State, sophomore setter Nicole Tate said.

Photo Gallery

Kansas vs. Iowa State volleyball

Images from the Kansas vs. Iowa State volleyball on Saturday October 10 at the Horseji Family Athletics Center. The Jayhawks lost the match 3-0.

“They are tough, but tonight we got outcoached, outworked and outplayed, and that’s our own fault,” Tate said. “We need to find a way to turn this around.”

Iowa State had its way at the nets and racked up 13 blocks while Kansas only had two. The powerful blocking kept Kansas from being able to get into an offensive rhythm, coach Ray Bechard said.

Kansas fell to 9-7 (2-5) while Iowa State improved to 14-3 (6-2).

Kansas also helped Iowa State’s good blocking with poor hitting by Kansas junior outside hitter Jenna Kaiser.

“When we swing lower than we have all season, then we are going to make a team look good,” Kaiser said.

Kansas didn’t have a player with double-digit kills for the first time this season, while junior libero Melissa Manda was the only Kansas player with double-digit digs with 16.

Iowa State came out strong in the first set, scoring seven in a row early and blocking six hits to build a strong lead. Kansas could never find an answer and lost the first set 18-25.

The second set started out even, but a 6-1 run in the middle of the set gave Iowa State an edge that Kansas could not overcome. Kansas kept a sluggish pace to lose the set 16-25.

After being down 0-2, the drive to win slowly went away during the third set, Tate said. Even after starting the third set even, Iowa State led during most of the set and Kansas lost 17-25.

Kansas will face its third- straight ranked opponent as it plays host to undefeated No. 2 Texas this Wednesday at the Horejsi Family Athletic Center. Kansas can’t let its losses linger if it wants to stay competitive in the Big 12, Bechard said.

“There is not one moment where you can doubt yourself in this league or take a step sideways or back,” Bechard said. “You can only look ahead at what’s in front of us.”

— Edited by Alicia Banister

Comments

Hendrix321 (anonymous) says...

One had to figure that Iowa State would have to be good in some sport at least. (other than wrestling)

October 12, 2009 at 7:56 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

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